“Is this trip to Shanghai about your art gallery’s business?” Art Gallery Director Deng Jufen asked.
“No, we came here for a drama production business. We will produce a Chinese drama with a drama production company in Shanghai, called Huanle Shiji Production Company.”
“Oh, is that right? I love Korean TV dramas. I’m sure you will produce an amazing TV drama by working together. It’s a great combination that Korean and Chinese teams work together in producing a drama, given the fact that we share similar cultures and all that. My favorite Kdramas (Korean dramas) are ‘What is Love,’ and ‘Dae Jang Geum.’ They are very old ones, and I enjoyed them a lot. My daughter loved ‘My Love from the Star’ which is relatively new.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Because of farsightedness due to my old age, I don’t often watch TV dramas any longer, but it seems that there are several Chinese online sites that show Kdramas.”
“I’ve heard of it too.”
“The drama producing that you are carrying forward will be successful Ms. President Shin since you are such a talented person. Moreover, you have Mr. President Goo beside you, who you can rely on. He is a progressive and competent businessman.”
“Thank you.”
The conversation between President Shin and Shanghai Art Gallery’s director—Deng Jufen—went on and on without any clue when it would end. Gun-Ho was busy interpreting for them. Gun-Ho finally decided to stop the endless conversation between two women. He looked at President Shin’s face and said, “I think it’s time for us to leave for the airport.”
“Oh, that’s right. I totally forgot. Ms. Art Gallery Director, I guess I have to say goodbye here. When you have a chance, please come to Korea and visit me.”
“Sure, I will do that. Thank you for stopping by the gallery to see me.”
Gun-Ho and President Jeong-Sook Shin came back to Korea. It was a one-day trip without spending any night.
When they arrived at Incheon International Airport, Chan-Ho Eum was waiting for them with Gun-Ho’s Bentley to pick them up.
President Shin said in the car, “Sir, I think the drama production business is also a very high-risk business just like the publishing business.”
“I agree with you.”
“The manufacturing business that you have been running is not so risky, is it? By the way, I don’t know anything about a manufacturing factory business. All I can think of when I picture a manufacturing factory are those enormous machines that are making loud noises. They are just scary objects to a layperson like me. I heard that workers at a manufacturing factory actually get injured sometimes while working with those machines, do they?”
“Every business has its own difficulties. The key to succeeding in any business is to place the right person in the right position and place. For example, I will never place you—Ms. President Shin—at a manufacturing factory. You will be useless there, and I’m certain that you will constantly produce defective products. You know GH Mobile’s plant manager who I consider like my little brother, right?”
“Yes, I do, sir.”
“Do you think he will handle the work at GH Media in publishing a book as well as he is doing at GH Mobile’s manufacturing factory? Even if we put aside the competency of handling work, I don’t think he can stay in a publishing company’s office even for a second. He will definitely run away to a production site where he can work with welding tools, right away.”
“Hahaha. I can very well picture that.”
It was Wednesday morning when Gun-Ho opened his email at work. There was an email from Huanle Shiji’s president—Baogang Chen. It was a very recent email that was sent to Gun-Ho about 30 minutes ago.
“Do they have the TV schedule for the new drama already?”
When Gun-Ho opened the email, there was a scanned news article of a morning paper. Gun-Ho slowly read the news article.
[The drama production company—Huanle Shiji decided to receive funds from Korea’s GH companies in order to produce their next daily soap opera—’Shiguang Ru Meng.’ It’s not just funds that they will receive from Korea, but they will also work together with Korean drama production team sharing technologies and know-hows in producing a drama. Huanle Shiji’s next drama will be a collaborative product between China and Korea.
Accordingly, the two parties—Shanghai’s Huanle Shiji Production Company and GH companies from Korea—signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the Pudong Hotel. They will soon start shooting the drama with 2 million dollars as a start. The Korean company will later invest more funds as necessary.]
Below the article, there was a photo depicting President Jeong-Sook Shin and Huanle Shiji’s President Baogang Chen having a handshake and exchanging the signed MOU.
Gun-Ho forwarded the email including the news article to President Jeong-Sook Shin and Director Woon-Hak Sim. He then made a call to Min-Hyeok Kim who was in Suzhou City, China.
“I went to Shanghai yesterday with President Jeong-Sook Shin.”
“Oh, you did? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I had to come back to Korea on the same day because of the things that I needed to take care of. And, we signed the MOU.”
“Really? I’m sure it will succeed. You have a very unique and incredible intuition on business. Since you picked the item, it will succeed.”
“I called you today to ask you a favor. We will need an interpreter, who will be working in Shanghai.”
“I’m sure that I can find tons of people who are willing to work in Shanghai City as an interpreter.”
“Really? Then, please find one for me. I’m going to send Director Woon-Hak Sim to Shanghai soon, and he will need an interpreter.”
“Who’s going to pay the interpreter? Is the drama production company that will bear the cost using an interpreter?”
“Of course. Once I send them the investment funds, they will be able to pay the workers including the interpreter.”
“Do you prefer a female interpreter? A male interpreter will be good too? I know a man who will fit right in the position. He is a Korean Chinese.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“They will have to provide a place to stay for him as well. Since it’s Shanghai, they should expect to spend at least 1,000 Yuan for accommodation only.”
“No problem.”
“That will be all you wanted to ask me for today?”
“If you could, can you find a place to stay for Director Sim as well at the Pudong area?”
“Housing in the Pudong area is expensive. A proper place for Koreans must cost at least 3,000 Yuan.”
“That’s fine. Please find one for him within that price range.”
“Will the drama production company pay for his room too?”
“Yes, they will.”
“Okay. Just let me know when his departure date to Shanghai is confirmed. I will get him a place to stay, and I will bring the interpreter there.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it! It’s part of the work. By the way, I heard that GH Mobile’s annual sales increased dramatically. Director Jong-Suk Park told me that their sales revenue will exceed 100 billion won by the end of this year.”
“That sounds about right.”
“According to Director Park, the major reason that is responsible for its recent increase in sales is the huge volumes of product orders from A Electronics. He said you brought that business in.”
“Hmm, well, you can say that.”
“Wow, 100 billion won is 100 million dollars, right? It’s an enormous amount of money. I am so impressed by your ability to bring that sort of business in. If you are a college kid, then I’m just an elementary schooler.”
“I’m sure GH Parts Company will grow like GH Mobile in the near future.”
When Min-Hyeok let out a sigh, Gun-Ho tried to encourage him.
“Min-Hyeok, you are doing an incredible job there. This year’s annual sales revenue will exceed 10 billion won, right?”
“It will exceed 10 billion won, but it can’t be compared to GH Mobile’s 100 billion won of their sales revenue. I feel embarrassed.”
“Don’t be silly. If not for a large Korean company, it is really hard for a small or medium-size Korean company to make 10 billion won in China. Most of them don’t even generate any profits. So, it is a fact that you are doing very well.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
